George,

Without the proper pH and fertilizer, no forage crop will perform well. The first step is to determine your mission for the plots. For example, is it to provide quality forage during the growing season or to serve as an attractant during the hunting season? Second, what other crops are available in the neighborhood? Are your plots the only source of quality forage in the neighborhood, or are there commercial ag fields nearby? These and other factors should be considered.

I’d rather have three acres of forage that have been limed and fertilized appropriately than six acres that received limited treatments. Healthy crops will produce more tons of forage and be more attractive to deer than un-managed crops. I suggest you determine your budget, and then determine the amount and type of crops to be produced. There are very few shortcuts to producing healthy forage that deer find palatable.

Growing Deer together,

Grant